Paul M. Smith, Jr.
Theater: European
Theater: European
Highest rank: 2nd. Lt.
S/N: O-446478
Of New Orleans, LA
He was a Student officer at Douglas. He had Basic at Greenwood, MS. and graduated from Blytheville Army Airfield, Arkansas. He became a B-17 pilot. He served in the 384th Bomb Grp., 547th Sqdn. in 1943 & 1944. He was Killed in Action Feb. 22, 1944. He is buried in the Ardennes American Cemetery at Liege, Belgium.
From MACR (Missing Air Crew Report) #2467:
On Feb. 22, 1944, Smith was the co-pilot of a 10-man crew on a B-17-G (S/N: 42-39809) departing from AAF Station 106 on a combat mission to Aschersleben, Germany. Witnesses reported seeing 10-15 ME-109's attacking the B-17 at last sighting. One parachute was seen to have emerged.
The bomber went down at Galen near Dorsten.
The navigator, William J. Kontur, reported as follows: "Smith bailed out over Wesel, Germany, 20,500 ft. I reported EW-190 at 2:30 high - which shot Smith. Smith was injured in the leg and chest. He was last seen in the co-pilot's seat."
Kontur reported the following heresay information: "German Col. at Stalag 1 received info thru Gestapo saying that Smith had bailed out and was killed trying to escape. This info was conveyed to me by C.O. (German) in Oct 45" (sic - he probably meant to write 44) - 'Smith in hospital at Wesel - leg wound.'
Kontur offered this explanation of Smith's fate based in part or wholly on supposition: "20mm wound in leg - chute partially damaged - either killed by German doctors or died from loss of blood - absolutely certain that Smith was OK at Dortmund Hosp. on night of Feb. 23, 1944."
Kontur reported that Smith had been on 13 missions.
The pilot, 1st Lt. Raymond L. McDonald, reported:
"All members of the crew bailed out. Lts. Bean and Kontur used navigators escape hatch. T/Sgt. Pierce used same. Sgts. Franzo, Gabriel, Odom and R.H. Egger used main door. Sgt. R.R. Egger used tail gunners escape hatch. I, the pilot, used navigators hitch after helping copilot. All other men bailed out immediately upon my order to leave."
The aircraft exploded in air shortly after McDonald bailed out.
With regard to Smith, Smith bailed out approximately 15 kilometers east of Wesel, Germany.
His last contact with Smith just prior to or at time of loss of plane was immediately before Smith bailed out of the navigators escape hatch. At that time, Smith was not injured "but was very nervous. His 'chute was 1/4 burnt but he bailed out regardless as we felt the ship would blow up very soon. We were unable to use my 'chute together since fire prevented us using the bomb bay to bail out, although we did consider doing so."Any heresay information: "It was rumored that he was in a hospital, told by other AAF Personnel. While in prison, I, Raymond L. McDonald, initiated investigation through the Germans of my camp as to Lt. Smith's fate. I received the following information: 2nd Lt. Paul M. Smith, Jr. O-446478 was killed in action on February 22, 1944 and was buried at Herveat-Dorsten, Germany."
McDonald offered this explanation of Smith's fate based in part or wholly on supposition: "I believe that Lt. Smith was killed when his burned parachute failed to support him. His 'chute pack was laying on the floor back of the copilots seat near the top turret when our hydraulic panel was hit by a 20 mm. shell which also exploded our oxygen bottles and the ensuing fire partially burned his chute."
McDonald reported that Smith had been on 12 missions.
Smith left an ID tag and 1 picture with the Germans. The ID read
Paul M. Smith Jr.O-446478 T 43
4603 S. Prieur Pl.
N.Orleans La.
Smith was buried Feb. 25, 1944 at the community cemetery of Hervest - Dorsten, 1 Papt. Section 2. Left side grave no. 233. He has since been moved to Ardennes American Cemetery at Liege, Belgium. See FindAGrave at http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Smith&GSfn=Paul&GSiman=1&GScid=1991676&GRid=56360955&